a-stupid-sunfish

[a-stupid-sunfish]

I swear this isn’t one of those cheap planned posts

[a-stupid-sunfish]

How to keep going when writing a chapter book

I haven’t written anything too long, but I have written things long enough that I loose interest half way through. So! Some things that might be helpful:

-Keep the tab open. If you close it, you will procrastinate and eventually forget that you wanted to finish writing something.

-When creative writing, it is always an option to switch points of view. This may keep the book from dragging on and it will give you, as a writer, a fresh mental desk to work on.

-Sometimes you just aren’t in the mood to write. Thats okay, don’t push yourself. This could lead to negative mental connections around your piece, and discourage you from working on it.

-DON’T REREAD CHAPTERS RIGHT AFTER YOU WRITE THEM!!! You won’t make any significant progress. Save this for editing.  

-If you start writing trash, delete it. Trash leads to more trash.

-If you suddenly get an idea, but your writing isn’t great at the moment, just keep track of it. Don’t try to write it.

[a-stupid-sunfish]

I was bored, so here’s a story prompt

Hero walks into the vault trying to stop villain from robbing it. Emergency protocols go off, locking down the vault, trapping the two in. Go!

[a-stupid-sunfish]

The Blooms - an apocalyptic short story

Space Station 7, 2057

Nika gazed out of the window of the space shuttle. It was a shame, she thought, that such a beautiful world was going to waste. She had never appreciated earth’s wonder before. But it was indeed stunning, with its green and orange seas and grey land. 

Nika didn’t fully remember when the seas were blue. She had just been born. All she recalled was a blue glow, and water lapping gently against the beach. That was before the Emerald Waves of 2031 and Red Tides of 2040.

The two toxic algae blooms which had contaminated almost all the water in the world. The only places that hadn’t fully been affected by this were the north and south poles, but they were melting anyway. The government had collected as much safe water as they dared to, and sent colonies of humans up on spaceships. There they farmed and tried to become sustainable.

It was mostly the fault of humans, dumping their fertilizers into the water instead of cleaning them up, and polluting the skies, causing global warming. Before the earth warmed by twelve degrees, the algae wouldn’t have bothered the poles. Sure, either way, the algae would have made the water toxic by being washed in, but if the poles were completely frozen there would be more water available to humans.

Nika was just a small child when it happened fifteen years ago, but she still remembered the fury in her mother’s eyes when the government had announced that they were going to stop saving more humans. It was despicable, Nika’s mother had told her two-year-old self. They had enough resources to send up at least four more thousand-person colonies. 

Ironically enough, thought Nika, snorting, most of their food, including what she was currently tending to, was heavy freshwater algae. Just what had gotten them into this mess.

Nika looked around the room. 2057, and humankind had de-evolved if anything. Here she was, replacing the filter in a ten by ten tank of algae. One of the many setups that kept the Seventh Colony fed. Nika supposed that it would make more sense to just put all the algae in one tank, but the government, paranoid about anything having to do with algae, spent more money (wasted, when it could have been used to help more people, as her mom said) to ensure that the algae would stay non-toxic and in control.

It was a marvel, though, what humankind could do in desperation. Scientists had developed these private, 100% self-sustainable capsules, fit for a thousand people in just two months. Sure, they weren’t the most convenient design, but they did their job. Nika’s mother had helped design some of them, actually. If it weren’t for Nika’s mom’s job as one of the engineers for NASA, Nika might not be alive right now.

Nika sighed as she fiddled with the filter, trying to get it to lock into the water system. What would happen to humanity, she wondered. Eventually, they would outgrow the ship, and they had no way to get to the Earth or other planets. It was kind of funny, she admitted. Maybe one day, the survivors down on earth, the humans they abandoned would save them.

Belle Glade, Florida, USA, 2057

Kaia stood, her back aching from crouching so long, water sample in hand. Earth was barely habitable, but Kaia was scrappy, smart, and determined. She had lived by a beach in Maine before the Red Tide had hit it, and had known the dangers of algae blooms long before the common population.

Kaia was six when Earth had started evacuating. There were so many problems with the earth, that the government just gave up, and took the lucky few up to space. Well, maybe no so lucky, thought Kaia with a smirk, as they had no way to get down.

By 2050 everything had shut down. Society was gone. Most people were gone. Kaia was the only one in her town with a well, so almost everyone else got algae poisoning and died, or ran out of food. Every human, every animal, every pet. Except for her.

Kaia, on the other hand, was different, She was more intelligent than most. She had known the Red Tides and the Emerald Waves were coming and had studied it as long as she could remember.

Her reward? Being all alone, in a deserted town, with only her makeshift farm and well for company.

There was no meat since the entire ecosystem had shut down. The freshwater fish were choked as the Emerald Waves of algae drained their oxygen from the water. The saltwater fish died from toxic poisoning since the algae that came in contact with salt water turned toxic. The animals on land ran out of freshwater to drink and eventually succumbed to poisoning.

Kaia had been working on a farm for long enough to survive, but the others in her town weren’t so lucky. Unaware of her farm, they starved slowly. Maybe some major farms would have stuck around if they had been diligent, taken samples of soil and water to make sure it was safe. But they didn’t. And as a result, thousands of people died.

It was ridiculous really, thought Kaia as she turned the compost compartment to speed up decomposition. Humans had so many means to stop this. They could have used ultrasound radiation to disinfect the surface of the water, they could have developed chemicals to eat up the algae, or simply mixed the water enough to prevent major growth. The government had been too busy with their petty squabbles that they were completely pathetic when it came to confronting the issue.

It was a miracle Kaia had survived out of all people since she lived next to the dreaded Lake Okeechobee in Florida, the first lake in America to entirely shut down. It had been declared uninhabitable in 2028, long before Kaia had been born.

Kaia sighed as she took a dirt sample, and looked up to where the space stations were floating in the sky. What was it all for, she couldn’t help but wonder. What was this sort of life worth?

[a-stupid-sunfish]

Minthe and Hades

This is super long but...

Minthe had never seen a living boy before. She and her sisters lived in the Underworld. They swam in the river of their father (he was a river and didn't count), frolicked in the color drained grasses, and sang together, voices woven with sorrow. She had never met her mother. Probably some spirit of the poplar trees that were scattered across the Underworld. 

Other than her sisters, Minthe had never really met any living soul. Sure, there were the ghosts, but they didn’t do much other than sulk. And so when Minthe saw the boy’s pale freckled face, and downcast grey eyes, she was hypnotized. 

Minthe had been strolling the hills when she saw him, dressed in pale off-white silks, an ever-so-slight bit of color in the gloomy landscape. 

He was over by the edge of the main part of the underworld, the city if you will, standing right by the ledge that looked over the starts of the five rivers of the underworld. The ledge that looked over her home. His eyes were already on her when she saw him, glued to her like she was the only bit of sunlight left in the world.

She was taken aback. What was a living human doing in the underworld?

Minthe raised one hand in a hesitant shy wave. The boy (well, he wasn’t really a boy. Probably sixteen or so…) didn’t return the gesture. He just stood there, shoulder-length black hair blowing in the wind, those grey eyes locked with Minthe’s pale green ones. That was the first time she saw him.

The next was at the market. Minthe had been bartering with a rather cranky shopowner ghost when she saw an unusual flash of… well, opaque out of her eye. Sure enough, there was the mysterious boy. 

He too was bartering. For what looked like a lilac silken dress. The shopowner ghost forgotten, Minthe crept towards him. She tapped him on the shoulder and he jumped. Face somehow paler than when she had last seen him, he turned towards him.

“Hello,” Minthe said softly. “I saw you, and...I don’t know. I’m Minthe. I saw you over by the cliff a little while ago.” The corner of the boy’s mouth tilted up in a smile, and close as she was, Minthe noticed that his hair wasn’t actually black, but a deep brown.

“You think I would have forgotten you?” He asked, his voice as soft and shy as her own. “I was going to go down to that field where you were and explore today. I, um,” He blushed. “Was going to bring you something while I was down there.” The boy handed her a box, and Minthe opened it, nodding in thanks. 

Inside the box was the lilac dress that she had seen him with, only moments ago. Minthe was touched. He couldn’t believe he had thought of her, a bashful river nymph who he had only seen once.

“What’s your name? I’ve never seen a mortal down here before. At least not a living one.” Asked Minthe.

“My name is Hades.” The boy’s face darkened. “I’m not a mortal. And I probably wouldn’t be down here if I had the choice.”

This sparked Minthe’s curiosity. “What do you mean?” She asked.

“I’ll tell you what,” Said Hades. “Meet me tomorrow at noon, the ledge where we saw each other. Then I’ll tell you all about myself.”

Minthe smiled. “Alright. And thank you for the dress, Hades.”

The next day they saw each other again. Minthe learned that Hades indeed wasn’t a human, he was something else. Something new. Something called a god. They became fast friends, and decided to meet in that exact spot, on the ledge twice a moon. They loved each other like any brother and sister would. And for years, there was just a little bit of color in the Underworld.

Then one day Hades met Minthe under the full moon with a frown on his face. This immediately worried Minthe, as despite being the god of the Underworld, Hades was one of the happiest people she had ever met. 

“Minthe,” Said Hades, his frown easing slightly.

“Hades.”

“I’m sorry. I have been called up to Olympus. I will be gone for a few months. A summons from my brothers. They’ve seen to it that I have no choice.” Hades spat. He hated his brothers. After he had helped them dispose of their tyranical father, Kronos, it had been his brothers to cast him into exile in the Underworld. His brothers to rob him of his deserved power. His brothers to turn on him and forget him. Hades was a misfit in their perfect world.

And so Minthe didn’t argue, didn’t attempt to convince him to stay. He was already worried enough. The added pressure of Minthe might break his gentle soul.

So she let him go. She helped him decide how to dress to impress and offered him moral support. And then he left.

The Underworld drained of all remaining color when he left. And so did Menthe. She spent time with her sisters and wandered the moors despairingly. For six months she cried into the river of her father.

When he came back Minthe was overjoyed. But it was not to be. Hades had a wife now. And he loved her more than anything. More than his subjects. More than his life. And after all she had done...

More than Minthe. And so she faded.

More than Minthe. And so she

More than Minthe

More

[a-stupid-sunfish]

“Thirty-four,” I pronounce, twirling my pencil around my bright red nails. “Your score is 34.”

The demon lord’s eyes get wide.

“34 out of 40?” They ask.

I sniff, and look off into the distance, as if they are boring me.

“34... wait no, 24 out of 100.”

The demon’s face mutates into a look of shock.

“24?! Why not 34? Why not 100?”

I shrugg, tossing a blue pigtail over my horned shoulder. The blue hair is something new I’m trying. Wonderfully modern, don’t you think?

“24 because I needed to explain that it was out of 100.”

The demon starts to wail.

“But why? My dungeons have toilets! Thats better than most dungeons. The paintings are genuine! Not prints! *flails spiky red tentacles* NOT PRINTS! Do you know how much that costs alone? And on top of that, the decoration in spot on. I hired an interior designer for that. And an expensive one too!”

“Ah hah!” I cry, waving my clipboard in their face. “So you admit to cheating!”

The demon lord’s oily red face goes very pale, a most pleasant shade of pink.

“Ch-cheating?”

“Yes! Hiring a designer is sooo cheating. If I was in charge I would demand you were fired.” With that I saunter out of the door, clipboard tucked under my arm, pencil clutched in a petulant fist. “And you may send my payment to my office.”

“Payment,” grumbles the bewildered demon. “I never agreed to pay you.”

Even though you are the most powerful evil being in the world, being evil just isn’t fun anymore. However, your new hobby in testing and reviewing the dungeons and lairs of some lesser known evils has proven quite entertaining, and actually some of them really stand out.

[a-stupid-sunfish]

You gaze at the clock. You are half nervous, half excited, half freaked out. Now I suppose this would make you more than one person, but I've never been one for math really, so we will go with it. The clock is at exactly 11:51, you have nine minutes. You seem to have utterly no idea what to do with yourself. You fiddle with your hands, and your eyes dart across the room. Gosh, I do hope you know what you will choose. Then again, what if you don’t? Everyone else has always had something in mind, what will happen if you don’t choose? 

You jump in your wooden kitchen chair. A noise is coming outside the door. A knocking, I concur, as the sound comes again.

“Silvia,” Comes a voice that you clearly recognise, by the widening of your pale green eyes. “Silvia, let me in! Please.” 

You scoop your wild black hair into a messy bun and rush to answer the door. A boy stands there, not much older than you, maybe 21 or so. Honestly, I have no idea. I suppose he could be your age, or maybe younger. He runs his fingers through his hair, pretty clearly shaken.

“Eddy?” You ask. “What are you doing here? I’m about to turn 18.” 

Eddy smiles a weak smile, as if just remembering this. “Happy birthday. You need to tell me how you managed to get 200 points, now.” Those exquisite eyes of yours widen once more. You stand still, paralyzed. Eddy nervously checks his watch.

I smile, satisfied that I have found you. I wasn’t sure until now, to be honest.

“Well?” He asks.

You blink, coming out of your head. You are in disbelieving shock. “Are you sure? Eddy, you know me. I barely leave the house. I work at a pizza place. Where did you get this idea?”

Eddy glances at his watch yet again. “Dammit,” he says. “Five minutes. We need to get out of here. The government is going crazy. Do you know any good place we can hide? Just for about ten more minutes? The gov is tracking you down.” Eddy tuggs you over to his car. You get in without much complaint, and tell Eddy that the park will probably suffice, to talk for a few minutes. On the drive over, you just stare down at your lap.

The two of you sit in the BMW at the park parking lot. Eddy is silent. You finally break the ice.

“Okay. I don’t really know what to think of this. Heres what you have told me: In a minute I will become really, really powerful. Possibly the most powerful person on the planet. The government is tracking me down. If they find me, they will probably kill me. Fine. For now, fine. But what about in like 30 seconds? Whats going to happen to you? Whats going to happen to me?” Eddy stays silent, and I sigh with apprehension. Then your cry out in pain. 

It has started. The land turns bright. It’s because of you. You emit a glow. Not a soft one, a cruel bright one. Eddy grits his teeth, and covers his eyes. You scream now, as your body contorts. Your back cracks, and tears run and run down your face. Not as in it makes a sound, as in a jagged crack is clear down your back. It glows fiercely. Two stubby horns emerge from your ebony hair. Your tailbone lengthens and stretches, to become a long scaly tale. And from your back, amerge wings. Not soft delicate fairy wings, but powerful, majestic wings. Wings fit for a dragon. And your face! Ah, your face! It does not carry your usual soft smile, but an ugly pit of hate. Hate, hate, hate. You rise from your crouched position, throw your head back, and let out a scream worthy of a valkyrie. You are so powerful. Eddy finally looks up at you, horrified. Behind him, a military team runs at you. But before they can shoot a single bullet, you freeze. And then you die. 

Your soul floats up to me. I give you a sad smile. 

“Welcome back, sister. I hope your reincarnation was pleasant.” I say. Your lips curl, to reveal pointed teeth, covered in blood from when you bit your mouth in pain.

“God.” You spit my name as if it is some vile surprise you have forgotten about. 

I smile at you wearily. 

“Lucifer.” I say.

When you turn 18, you get to choose superpowers based on points you earned based on your behavior. Most people get about 10 points, the world’s mightiest heroes had around 30. You just turned 18. You have over 200 points and your government is freaking out.

[a-stupid-sunfish]

Kronos

Kronos is bad right? A titan. Killed his family. All around bully. But think about him. 

Kronos was one of the first beings. They had no concept of death. And so when Gaea comes up to her kids and asks which of them will kill their father, Kronos volunteers. He is the youngest. He is invisible. He has no idea what death is. All he cares about is earning a place in his family.

Fast forward to Kronos standing over his father’s body. He is covered in blood. He is crying. He is just a kid. He just keeps bringing down the scythe though, because if not he will bear the weight of what has gone on that evening. He would do anything to go back. To have not spoken up. His muscles quake with the weight of the scythe, but he keeps chopping. Keeps cutting away at his heart.

Kronos is the king. He is no longer a boy. It has not been long, but he has aged all the same. He looks at the weak, and tortured, and ignores the child in his head. He laughs. A broken sound. A strong sound. The only sound that will keep him from being crushed. In, and out.

All of his brothers are married. They cautiously tease him, telling him he will never find love. But gently enough that he will not crack, that he will not banish them into the void as their father wished to do.

Little do they know.

Kronos doesn’t quite have a heart. He has gone through a little too much for that. But the rudiments of one, the remaining slivers of one, are still there. And for Rhea, he might just try to put them back together.

For a while everything is perfect. Rhea’s laugh is like nothing he has ever felt before. She kisses him on the cheek under the moon, sits at the side of his throne, holding his hand.

Then she tells him. She is pregnant.

Kronos is excited. He rushes to his brothers to tell them the news. His heart is blood and flesh again. It is piecing itself together slowly. But his brothers aren’t nearly as excited.

Kronos’ mind has blanked out the day he killed his father. It’s the only way he can be happy. But his brothers remember every bit. And they tell him of the curse that Ouranos cast.

Kronos is devastated. He want the child. He really does. But he doesn’t want to destroy this golden world. And so when Rhea hands him Hestia’s small glowing frame, he sobs as he banishes her into his stomach.

Maybe thats why the gods were able to take down Kronos. Maybe he knew that Zeus was his son, but swallowed the poison anyway. Maybe as he saw his home destroyed, part of him felt a little proud. Maybe that's why a final tear slipped down his cheek before the darkness came.

Think on that, will you?